The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1887-09-22
The mistake OF President Lincoln was

one doubts that his intention was pltri-
otic.
1t Apnomatox, in a spirit of splendid
generosity, Grant would not take the
sworl oi Lee, which would have been
as proud trophy as all the flags taken
on the battlefield. But Grant did not
stop there He never did anything by
halves. lie gqye hack to the confeIer-
a!es, after the Surrender of Lee, their
artillery, cavalry and quartcrmaster
horses. They were our property by the
laas OF war; but Grant gave them back
to the men who an hour before stood ar
rayed in arms against the sovereignty OF
the Rtpuj ic; and to this hour no man
ha, uttered word OF censure against
Grant for that act, and the civilized world
applauded his wise and generous con-
duet. And sherman, not to be outdone
by Grant, went several bow shots turth
than Grant ever dreamed o.. He si"ned
a convention with Joe Johnston, said to
have been drawn by John c. Brecken-
ridge, wherein it was stipulated that the
armed coniederates under Johnston
should be allowed to march back to their
respective state capitals with flags lying
and drums beating their arms TO be de-
posted i'll their state arsenais!
The action OF General sherman was
repudia,ed by President Lincoln and the
unconditional surrender of Johnston's
army WAS the result; but no one ever
doubted tine loyalty of Sherman, because
OF his mistake, and today he is one OF
the prime favori;es of the public.
THE PENSIONS. -.
It is further charged that President
Cleveland vetoed a general pension act.
So he did; and SO did President Grant
veto general pension act. The men
who started al this clamor against Cleve-
land, were silent when Grant did the
same thing. The only difference being
that Grant was q Republican, and SO are
the men who raised the clamor against
Cleveland, who is Democrat.
There are those who seem to believe
that the National Treasury is sort OF
Aladdin's lamp, and that the President
is in possession OF Aladdin's magic ring,
which it is only necessary to rub against
the lamp to cause streams OF money to
flow from the treasury into the pockets
OF those who will take the trouble to
hold their pockets open wide enough to
let the dollars pour in. But, after all,
every well has its bottom, and when it is
reached the Well is dry. And it may
not be amisS to remember that every dol
lar in the treasury has been collected
from the people in the way OF taxes, and
this fact is not wholly unworthy OF con-
sideration.
l am in favor of giving liberal pensions
to the men who put in jeopardy health,
limb and life to maintain the integrity
and glory of Our country. But would it
not be wise to give the country chance
tolive alse?
Grant and Cleveland each vetoed a
general pension law and each did what
he belieNed to be his duty. Grant has
gone, bu! Cleveland stands at the helm
of the snip OF state, and it is safe under
his guidance. He is as brave and true
as Andrew Jackson, and as the people
stood by Jackson, SO should they stand
by Grover Cleveland.
1t has even been charged that the
President is not friend of the soldiers.
Not friend OF the soldiers! aver, and
will prove, that Grover Cleveland has
done more for the soldiers than any other
President since the close OF the Civil
War.
This paper, which you see in my
hand, is a carefully prepared statement
made from the public records by the
Honorable G. II. Barger, U. 5. Pension
Agent for Ohio, and the facts am about
to state are furnished by him.
During The twelve years OF the admin
stra,icns OF Grant and Hayes, in which
period the Republicans controlled both
Houses of Congress-for eight years those
two presidents approved 80 special PEN
sion acts while Cleveland in only two
years-the lower Hous. De,nocratic-ap
proved S63 special pension acts, or III
more than Grant and Hayes approved in
twelve years.
Again, during the last two years of Re
publican administration, under President
Arthur, l22,5l7 pension certificates, of all
kinGs, weie issued; but i'll two years of
prcsilcIt Cleyeiand's administration
25S,6J7 pension certificates We're Issued,
or more than twice as many as had been
issued under Republican rule in the
same period OF time. :.
When Mr. Barger took charge sof the
United States Pension Agency for Ohio,
in August, 1855, there We're 81 l.5U0 PEN
sioners in this agency, but under Demo-
cratic RUE the number has increased to
39,503 by August, 1857, being an increase
Of $500 in two years.
During the year ending June 80, 1888,
of Republican rule, the pensioners OF
the Chic agency received S3,6OS, l303C;
for the year ending June 81. 1857, the
Ohio pensioners received S7,tS3,2l7.3S;
or an increase of nearly two millions.
Under Repuo.ican rule, for the year end
ing June 90 1856, the cost OF paying
about i've and half millions to PEN
sioners was. S2232 ,562.99; while under
Democratic rule for the year ending June
80, 1SS7y the cost OF paying about seven
and half millions was $1,000 less than
the.Repub!icans expended in 1885, when
the Ohio pensions only amounted to
about five and half millions Il
The Democratic administration has
been generous to the soldiers and econ
omical for the taxpayer. Taking Grover
Clevelan as their model workingman,
the employees of the government have
worked more and danced less than under
the free-an;lwork-easy system OF Repub-
lican olice holders.
Ours is great country, and our action
as citizens should be in harmony with
the grand simplicity OF its free institu-
tons.
We are the only people who in sir
gle lifetime ever saw free and powerful
states, and splendid cities, spring into
existence in the midst of the wilder
ness.
With population only one-sixth as
great As that of Europe, we have more |
miles OF railway; and the annual amount |
OF tonnage which passes to and from !
Lake Superior, and the vast West beyond |
it. through our canal at the Sault Sainte |